Community for the chronically ill

how to

A new year can be the start of a new beginning. It is typically the time where people set new goals to accomplish for the next year. But with a chronic illness, keeping a New Year’s resolution can be extra challenging. Below are some tips to help you reach your goals and accomplish your dreams!

How to keep your New Year’s Resolutions with chronic illness-

1- Be Realistic. Set goals that you know you can accomplish.

Example- If better fitness is your goal, set realistic goals appropriate for your lifestyle, illness and activity level. If you tell yourself “I’m gunna lose 10lbs a week” and then you don’t you, will be discouraged and end up giving up. Be realistic. Instead of saying “I’m gunna lose 10lbs a week” say “I’m gunna eat right, hydrate and exercise as best as I can. Health is the FIRST priority.

3- Pace yourself. Don’t be “all or nothing.”

If you start out all “gung ho” and go “full throttle” you will burn yourself out and end up giving up. Change isn’t easy and it has to be done in sensible increments.

Example- If you are trying a new diet, do your food adjustments slowly. You will throw your body into a quick and painful detox if you all of the sudden drop all sugar, gluten or meat out of your diet. Focus on replacing the bad things with good things. Instead of eating a piece of cake after dinner, have a piece of fruit instead. Instead of drinking sweet tea throughout the day, replace it with water.

Change needs to happen in a way that ensures you will continue the new habits you’ve chosen to add to your life.

3- Make Positive Resolutions. Be sure you are doing what’s best for you.

Do not compromise your health for any New Year’s resolutions.

Example- All of us with chronic illness would like to be on less medicine. If this is your goal, be sure that you are vigilant of your health needs first. Yes, you want to be off the medicine but if it is helping you or even keeping you alive- this resolution is not what is best for you.

When it comes to adding or taking things out of your life, be sure you are weighing the proper Pros and Cons. Don’t put your health at risk for anything. I promise you it’s not worth it.

Your health comes first, before any resolution.

4- Write out Out. Make a visual chart of what you hope to accomplish.

Grab a pen and paper and write out your weekly, monthly and yearly goals that you hope to accomplish.

Write out a “game plan” of how you are going to accomplish your resolutions.

It may help you to post your goals around places you will see them (your mirror, your desk at work, your car, etc)

5- Get Support. Align yourself with people who have the same goals.

Example- If you are starting a new diet, find an online support group for people also on that diet to get tips, recipes and information to help you succeed. This will give you encouragement and accountability.

6- Understand that things take time. Don’t be hard on yourself.

Any change is going to take time! Nothing happens overnight!

You won’t be able to get everything perfect all at once. There will be days where you fail but that is okay! All that matters is that you try your best.